Holiday Homecoming (Nashville Nights Next Generation)

by Cheryl Douglas

  “You can do this, baby,” he whispered, kissing her hand. “You’re doing great. I’m so proud of you.”

  “It’s not over yet,” she said, screaming as the most violent contraction she’d felt so far ripped through her. Nothing could have prepared her for the pain, not the books or TV shows or horror stories she’d heard from her girlfriends. She never experienced pain like this. “This is it,” she shouted. “I can’t do this again.”

  Maria gave Liam a look that made Alisa want to kick her, hard. Didn’t they understand this little being inside of her was hell bent on splitting her in two?

  “We’re almost there, sweetheart,” Liam said, leaning forward on the edge of his chair. “Just think, we’ll be holding our baby in our arms any minute now.”

  Liam always knew what to say to calm her down, and she held on to that image as she followed Maria’s instructions, pushing through the contractions and pausing to breathe when she was told to. Seconds seemed like minutes and minutes seemed like hours as she tried to focus on her mother’s gentle words of encouragement in her ear.

  She watched the expression on Liam’s face as he watched the event unfolding, and she could see it in his eyes when they neared the end of their ordeal.

  “Oh my God,” he whispered, his eyes filling with tears.

  “The head is out,” Maria said, in a firm voice. “Just let me get a grip on him. One more gentle push and we can welcome your little angel into the world, Alisa.”

  The tears came full force as Alisa realized it was almost time to bask in the miracle of bringing their baby into the world. She couldn’t wait to meet him, to hold him, to watch her husband fall in love with the life they created together.

  “I have to…” She didn’t even get the words out before her body interceded, urging her to push with as much strength as she could muster. Before she knew what was happening, she was mesmerized by the sweetest sound she’d ever heard, her baby’s first cry.

  “Oh, wow,” Alisa said, staring down at the slippery infant wriggling to break free of Maria’s tight grip.

  “It’s a boy,” Liam whispered, almost as though he couldn’t believe he’d been lucky enough to witness this miracle, much less partake in it. “We have a son,” he said, kissing Alisa gently. He looked her in the eye before touching his forehead to hers. “Thank you. He’s the most incredible gift…”

  She cried as she held her husband close. “I already love him so much.”

  “I love you,” he whispered. “More now than I ever thought possible. You’re amazing.”

  Alisa followed Maria’s final instructions as Maria prepared to cut the cord and hand the baby off to his daddy.

  Liam stared at him a long time, whispering and rubbing noses with him as Liam blinked back the tears threatening to spill down his cheeks.

  “We’ll give you a few minutes alone,” Sierra said, reaching down to kiss her daughter’s cheek. “Congratulations, to both of you.” To Alisa, she said, “I’m so proud of you.”

  “Thanks, Mama.”

  Alisa watched her mother and Maria leave the room before she said to her husband, “Do I get a turn?”

  Liam smiled as he walked toward her, beaming like the proud new father he was. “Of course. You did do all the work, after all.” He settled their baby in her arms, and he immediately started rooting around at his mama’s breast. Liam laughed. “A man after my own heart.”

  Alisa tried to hide her smile as she pulled her T-shirt up and watched her baby latch on with a fierce intent that took her by surprise.

  “Are you okay?” Liam asked, frowning. “It doesn’t hurt, does it?”

  “No, it’ll just take some getting used to, that’s all.”

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered, claiming the chair beside her as he took one of his son’s tiny feet in his big hand and massaged the wrinkled sole.

  “I must be a wreck,” she said, wincing when she imagined what the mirror would reveal when she finally felt brave enough to look.

  “You’ve never looked more beautiful.”

  Suddenly, Alisa didn’t care what she saw in the mirror. She saw the truth in her husband’s eyes.

  Trey paced back and forth in front of the fireplace, much to the amusement of their friends and family, when he saw his wife rounding the corner with the midwife close behind. The expression on her face told him everything he needed to know. His baby and grandbaby were fine. History hadn’t repeated itself. They weren’t going to have to pull together to face a tragedy tonight, as they had so many years ago. This was a day to celebrate the miracle of life and love.

  He glanced at the clock hanging on the wall as Sierra stepped into his outstretched arms. It was 12:35 a.m. “Looks like we have a Christmas baby, y’all.”

  Everyone cheered and started hugging, talking, crying, and laughing all at once.

  “It’s a boy,” Sierra whispered, reaching up to kiss his lips. “Congratulations, Papa.”

  Trey felt the hot burn of tears sting his eyes. “No way.”

  “He’s perfect, Trey. Just wait till you see him.”

  “How much does he weigh?”

  “Maria decided to give them a few minutes alone first. She’ll go back in soon and find out all the details for the record.” Sierra laid her head on his chest as his arms tightened around her.

  Trey could hear the excited voices filtering in and out of his head, but in this moment, the only things that mattered were the woman in his arms and the love of the people surrounding them. He’d made so many mistakes in his life. He had no idea how he ended up here, with family who would lay down their own lives for him and friends who rallied around him when he needed support. He was a lucky man indeed. Granted, a man who faced his share of tragedy and trials, but the pleasure he experienced most days was more than many people experienced in a lifetime.

  “How did we get so lucky?” he asked his wife, kissing her lips gently. “I mean you, I understand, but me… What the hell did I do to deserve all this?”

  She ran her hand through his hair. “I was worried about how this would affect you. I know you were scared for Alisa.” She pressed a kiss to the opening at the collar of his button-down shirt. “It brought it all back, losing Callie, didn’t it?”

  “Yeah, but you know what else it made me realize?” He held her tighter, marveling in the fact that she fit him even better now than she did all those years ago when they’d first started their life together.

  “What’s that?”

  “Everybody faces tragedy sometimes. It’s hell, but death is a part of life, and you can’t let the loss steal your will to live. I did that for so many years. I let it take over my life. I drove you away, and I ended up alone. God, I was so alone. Now look at where we are, surrounded by friends and family. Hell, it doesn’t get much better than this, does it?”

  “No, it doesn’t.” Sierra smiled as she looked around them. “Hey, where’d everybody go?”

  Trey picked her up and kissed her neck. “Maybe they thought we needed a few minutes to celebrate in private.”

  “You ready to meet your new grandbaby, Trey?”

  He grinned, feeling his heart swell with love and anticipation. “I don’t think I can wait another minute.”

  Alisa watched her parents step into the room and Trey’s eyes zeroed in on the baby sleeping in his father’s arms.

  “Wow,” Trey said, grinning. “Just look at him.”

  Alisa reached out to take her father’s hand and he stepped toward her, reaching down to hug her gently. “I can’t tell you how proud I am of you, baby.”

  “Thanks.” Alisa didn’t even try to stop the flow of tears. She figured she’d earned the right to shed a few tonight. “Isn’t he amazing?”

  Trey leaned over to sneak a peek inside the blanket. “He sure is.”

  Liam held the baby out to Trey. “Meet your grandson, Trey Matthew Bryson.”

  “Are you serious?” Trey looked from his daughter to her husband and back again be
fore Liam gently placed the baby in his arms, being careful to cradle the infant’s neck as he made the transfer.

  “Of course we’re serious,” Liam said, shifting to stand beside Trey as he looked down at his son. “I wasn’t close to my own father, and since I’ve married your daughter…” Liam thrust his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels. “Let’s just say after you got over the initial shock, you couldn’t have been more supportive.” He placed a hand on Trey’s shoulder. “I want you to know how much I appreciate that.” Liam smiled at Sierra, who was wiping away tears. “You’ve both welcomed me into your family, and I want you to know how grateful I am.”

  Sierra reached out to hug Liam. “We couldn’t have chosen a better man for our daughter.”

  Alisa’s eyes welled with tears as she watched the exchange between the four people she loved most in the world.

  A light tap on the door drew their attention and Abby smiled at the baby in Trey’s arms.

  “Can anyone join the party?” she asked, locking eyes with her dad.

  “Come here, you,” Liam said, walking toward her, his hand outstretched to pull her into the room. “There’s someone we want you to meet.” He led Abby to the baby and put an arm around her shoulders as she gazed at him in wide-eyed wonder. “I want you to meet your baby brother, Trey Matthew Bryson.”

  Abby pressed her fingertips to her lips and stared at him for a moment before she said, “Look at him. He’s perfect.”

  Liam pressed a kiss to her temple and winked at Alisa. “We think so.”

  “Would you like to hold him?” Trey asked Abby.

  “Do you mind?” Abby asked.

  Trey grinned. “Of course I don’t mind. If I know your old man, he’s gonna keep you busy babysitting whenever you’re at home.”

  Abby looked up at her dad. “This does feel like home,” she said quietly. “I wasn’t sure that it would. I mean, I grew up in San Fran, and I spend the better part of the year in New York, but being here with all of you feels right, like I’ve figured out where I belong.”

  Liam drew his daughter into his arms and Alisa saw how much it meant to him to know that Abby was happy with the choices he’d made.

  They’d both given up their lives in San Francisco to build a life here with her and she was grateful not only to have Liam in her life, but to have a relationship with his daughter that went beyond anything she could define. She loved and respected the teen. Abby taught her more about herself than she ever expected when she took on the role of being her stepmother.

  Abby accepted the baby and Trey rubbed her back as he took Sierra’s hand. “We’ll be back in a bit. I’m sure everyone’s dyin’ to see this little one.”

  Alisa glanced at her husband. He was so engrossed watching his two children, she had to clear her throat to capture his attention. “Honey, do you mind if I have a minute alone with Abby?”

  “Of course not. I could use a drink. Can I get you anything?”

  “No, I’m fine. Thanks.”

  His eyes traveled over her face and he mouthed the words “I love you” before he left the room.

  Abby sat down in the chair at the edge of Alisa’s bed. “I can’t believe how tiny he is.” She slipped her index finger inside his fingers and smiled. “I haven’t had much experience with babies.”

  “How do you feel about having a brother, Abby? I mean, I know we’ve talked about it before, but it’s different now that he’s here. I know you must have mixed feelings about having to share your dad.”

  Abby didn’t respond at first. She simply stared at the baby in her arms. “I don’t think you realize what it was like before my dad met you.”

  Over the past two years, Alisa and Abby had many meaningful talks. She thought her stepdaughter had confided everything in her, but she suspected this was different. “What do you mean, sweetie?”

  “He was so unhappy. You have no idea.”

  Alisa’s heart clenched when she saw how much it cost Liam’s daughter to acknowledge the truth about her father’s emotional state. “But he had you, a business he was passionate about—”

  “He threw himself into his business because he felt it was the only thing he had, aside from me.” She brushed a finger over the baby’s chubby cheeks. “Sometimes I looked into his eyes and it scared me to see…” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to describe it. It just looked like he wasn’t really there, ya know?”

  “I think so.”

  “The first day he came home and told me about you, there was this fire in his eyes. He was excited about something other than business and I can’t tell you how relieved I was.” She lifted her head to meet Alisa’s eyes. “I think I loved you before I even met you because I knew you were the person who could make my dad happy.”

  Alisa reached for a tissue on the bedside table, giggling through her tears. “My hormones are all over the place, and you’re just making it worse. I hope you know that.”

  Abby smiled as she readjusted the baby’s blanket. “I just want you to know that whatever happiness you and dad are able to find together, I’m all for it, Alisa.”

  “I love you,” she whispered. “I know I’ve told you that before…” Alisa cleared her throat, trying to get the words past the lump in her throat. “Not just because I see so much of your dad in you, but because of the person you are. You’re sweet and smart, creative and funny. If I’d imagined my daughter, I’d have imagined someone just like you, sweetie.”

  “It hurt,” Abby said, her voice breaking, “knowing my mother didn’t want me. I always wondered what I’d done to drive her away. I mean, did I cry all the time or scream all hours of the day and night? Did I refuse to eat for her, or… did I just make her crazy?”

  “You didn’t do anything,” Alisa said. Her heart broke because she knew that even with all of Liam’s money and power, he’d never been able to give his daughter the one thing she so desperately wanted: a mother. “Some people don’t deserve to be parents.” She knew it was harsh, but her resentment toward a woman she’d never even met had been building since the day she met Liam and his daughter. She didn’t know how a woman could choose not to be a part of their lives.

  “And some people were born to be parents, even to children they didn’t give birth to.” Abby reached for a tissue and brushed at the tear sliding down her cheek. “I know I was practically grown by the time you met my dad, but still, you’ve had a huge impact on my life. I hope you know that.”

  Tears obstructed Alisa’s throat, so she nodded.

  “You convinced my dad to let me go so I could pursue my dream. I don’t know if you realize how much that meant to me.”

  “You earned that right all on your own.”

  “You’ve become more than a step-mother to me. You’ve been a friend, someone I can talk to…” She reached out to squeeze her hand. “Someone I can count on, and for a kid who grew up without a mother, that means everything.”

  “Come here,” Alisa said, reaching out to draw her son and stepdaughter into the circle of her arms. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am that you and your dad came into my life.” She kissed Abby’s tear-streaked cheek. “You mean everything to me. Both of you.”

  Chapter Seven

  Trey had escaped to his study for a few minutes to try to process everything that happened tonight when his best friend, Luc Spencer, opened the door and strode in. Luc didn’t bother knocking. The two men had been friends too long to stand on ceremony.

  “How does it feel to be a granddad?” Luc asked, grinning as he crossed the room to claim one of the leather club chairs in front of the stone fireplace.

  “Incredible. Surreal.” Trey shook his head as he sat down across from Luc. “I still can’t believe it, if you wanna know the truth.”

  “Marisa and I just peeked in on them. Let me tell you, that is one good lookin’ kid. Thank God he looks like his old man and not you, right?”

  Trey chuckled. “Smart ass.”

  “They told m
e his name. That’s pretty cool.”

  Only someone he’d known most of his adult life would understand how much being honored that way meant to him. “Ya know, I’ve won lots of awards for makin’ music. I’ve got platinum records linin’ the walls, but the three best days of my life, without a doubt, were the day I re-married Sierra, the day Alisa was born, and tonight.”

  “What about the first time you married Sierra? That doesn’t make the list?”

  “I didn’t know what the hell I had until I lost her. You know that. I’m ashamed to admit that I was so wrapped up in makin’ a name for myself that I didn’t realize none of it meant a damn thing without her.”

  Luc smiled. “Now you’ve got it all, buddy. The wife, the career, and family and friends who’d do anything for you. That’s a hell of a lot more than most people.”

  “Don’t I know it.” Trey took a deep breath. He’d played this conversation out in his mind the better part of the last year. “I’m thinkin’ it might be time for me to pack it in, Luc.”

  Luc looked as though someone had knocked the wind out of him. “You can’t be serious. Your last tour sold out every major city in fifteen minutes or less. You’re still one of the hottest tickets in any town.”

  “That’s the way I wanna go out. On top.”

  Luc looked into the contents of his crystal glass a long time before he said, “I can’t say I don’t understand how you feel. Hell, I was ready when the time came to pack it in, but you, you have the music inside of you, Trey. You think you can just turn it off?”

  “Probably not, but I can write music from anywhere in the world. It’s time for me to devote the rest of my life to re-payin’ my wife for puttin’ my career first all these years. We both know how much she’s had to sacrifice.”

  “I can’t argue with that.” Luc grinned. “My son is gonna go crazy when he hears about this.”

  “I’ll talk to Evan about it after the holidays. I wanted you to be the first to know.”